Resiliently mounted chair back



March 4, 1952 w. D. CORNING RESILIENTLY MOUNTED CHAIR BACK 2 Sl-lEETSSl-IEET 1 Filed June 21, 1946 March 4, 1952 w. n. CORNING RESILIENTLY MOUNTED CHAIR BACK 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed June 21, 1946 Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESILIENTLY MOUNTED CHAIR BACK Walter D. Corning, Knoxville, Tenn.

Application June 21, 1946, Serial No. 678,403

' 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in chairs, and more particularly to such straightback chairs as are used in dining rooms, dinettes, and as card game chairs.

It has long been recognized that straight-back chairs are uncomfortable in which to sit for any appreciable length of time, but because these have been manufactured generally for ornamental effect or of simplified construction, it has not been practical to modify the construction thereof to such extent as will make them more comfortable. Such suggestions as have been made for rendering chairs of comfortable construction have not been adaptable to dining room and card game chairs either because that would detract from the ornamental appearance thereof, or would have other objections that would make them unsatisfactory to use.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of such straight-back chairs to provide for greater comfort in use, without adding appreciably to the expense or cost of the construction while adhering to the harmony of line and the style of the chair, which may in fact enhance the beatuty of it by adding an inlaid appearance thereto.

This object is accomplished according to preferred forms of the invention by the incorporation in one or more desired portions of the chair of yieldable, resilient material, such as relatively soft rubber, which will allow ready give of these portions to accommodate the shifting of the body on the chair and relieving the tension acquired from sitting in a straight-back chair of this type. As the body is moved in the chair the yieldable material will permit such movement and yield in response thereto, and then will return to its normal position as the body is shifted again or removed. For instance, the material providing this yielding section can be built into the legs of the chair and also in the back, or any of these, or other desiredparts, so as to provide yielding action accordingly. When thus built the legs of the chair will yield to accommodate the sitting position of a person, and the back will yield to.

permit the person to lean back to some extent in the chair and to bear yieldably against the back of the person, thus relieving the tired feeling often experienced from sitting in an ordinary straight-back chair.

This is accomplished without adding an accessory to the structure that would be objectionable in appearance and expensive to use, but, built in as an integral part of the structure, it will preserve the natural lines of the chair and its style,

but will not weaken the structure. In fact it adds to the strength and durability and gives an unusual appearance which may simulate inlaid Work that is found ordinarily in expensive furniture, thus improving the appearance.

It is preferred to use one or more blocks of relatively soft, yieldable material, such as soft rubber, for this purpose, built into the legs and back of the chair, or any of these, according to the points of the structure where yielding action is desired. These blocks of yieldable material are securely fastened permanently in place as an integral part of the chair, and will allow some yielding action at the respective points where used to accommodate the shifting of the body, and thereby overcome fatigue.

The invention is illustrated in different embodiments in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the chair showing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the chair back support, partly broken away and in section;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof with the upper part shown in a backward position;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a similar view with the upper part moved back from its normal position;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation showing still another form of yieldable support; and

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the parts thereof removed and separated.

The invention is shown as applied to a straightback chair such as a dining chair, provided with a seat I, front and back legs 2 and 3, and back supports 4. In the form illustrated the back supports 4 are shown as aligned with the back legs 3 and forming continuations thereof, although these may be separate if desired.

At desired points in the chair I prefer to incorporate yieldable inserts to provide for yielding thereof in response to shifting of the body on the chair. These inserts are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as applied to the front and back legs 2 and 3 as well as to the back supports 4. However, the points of use of such inserts may be varied as desired, as for instance it may be found sufficientto use them only in the back supports 4.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, each insert is formed by a block of relatively soft rubber, as indicated generally at 5, which should have suflicient yieldability to flow in response to relative movement of the respective it chair parts connected therewith. This will allow the desired yielding action, but the amount of free flow depends on the character of chair and the use to which the insert is to be applied, as in the back or in the legs of the chair, or other portions thereof.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the block has side flanges 5 that separate aligned end portions of the chair part connected therewith, the sections of which chair part overlap and embrace at l the opposite ends of the block and are secured thereto by adhesive or by pins, bolts, or other fastenings 8, or by adhesive and fastenings, as desired. In this form of the invention the block 5 extends from edge to edge of the connected chair part, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, being overlappedforwardly and backwardly, which increases the sturdiness of the structure. The bolts or fastenings 8, two of which are preferably used in each end portion of the block or insert, hold the parts securely together and give the necessary strength to the insert, so that the structure is not weakened by the incorporation of the insert therein.

It will be evident from Fig. 4 that the connected chair sections are free for relative yielding action to accommodate the shifting movement of the body in the chair, thus relieving the tension acquired from sitting in the chair for a long period of time. Where the insert is used in the legs of the chair so that bending action is not applied to the sections of the respective legs, the rubber inserts expand and contract as pressure is applied onthe respective legs in shifting the position of the body in the chair. This will have the efieot of relieving the tension and fatigue and providing greater comfort in such straight-back chairs.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the block, l5 has reduced opposite end portions l6 which are telescoped into the connected sections 4', where they are held in place by pins, bolts or other fastenings H3. The block is, inter posed directly between the chair sections holding these separated from each other free for yielding action therebetween, as indicated generally in Fig. 6. The rubber of the block will flow suffiicently to accommodate for this yielding action, as shown.

Still another form of the invention is shown in Figs. '7 and 8, which is adapted particularly to chairs that have heavy backs or where heavier wood is used in the structure, which may require extra strength in the insert. In this event, separated rubber blocks are shown at in side by side relation, and are separated by means of a flat, thin steel leaf spring 26 which is inserted. between the blocks 25. The spring 26 extends from side to side of the chair part, such as the back support, so as to bend forward and backward in accommodating itself to movement of the chair back as when a person leans back in a chair. The steel spring 26 yields with the rubber and adds extra strength to chairs which require it.

These rubber inserts not only add attractiveness to the appearance of the chair in giving the appearance of inlaid work in the portions thereof, but they are inexpensive to manufacture and install and will enhance appreciably the value of the chair in giving greater comfort to an occupant. Such an insert may be applied to straight-back chairs of the type ordinarily used Without the necessity for devising new methods of manufacture which a highly specialized device would require, but lends itself readily to its incorporation in chairs of ordinary types without disturbing the natural line of the chair and without weakening it. In fact the insert, being built in the body of the chair directly in the line thereof, will provide greater strength and durability and therefore longer life than would be possible by an attachment at the joint or other portion of the chair. The inserts are provided in such manner as to leave the natural joints without interference, thereby preserving the natural strength of the joints and without sacrificing ease or comfort. At the same time there are no parts to get out of alignment which would make the chair 7 unfit for use or require special adjustment.

It is well known that relatively soft rubber does not wear appreciably in use so long as its softness is preserved by use, and this also eliminates the possibility of a squeak developing in the chair, which would be annoying.

While the invention has been illustrated in certain embodiments, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made in these without departing from the invention, except as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a chair having an elongated support member including sections separated lengthwise from each other, each of said sections having a recess therein, an insert having universal movement connecting said sections together and including a block of yieldable non-metallic material interposed between the sections at the adjacent edges thereof beside the recesses with portions of said block extending into the recesses therein and permanently secured thereto permitting movement of the sections relative to each other.

2. In a chair having an elongated support member including sections separated from each other, each of said sections having a recess therein, and an insert connecting the sections together,

said insert including a block of yieldable nonmetallic material permanently secured to the respective sections and interposed between the sections holding said sections at the adjacent edges thereof beside the recesses with portions of said block extending into the recesses therein in spaced relation and for relative universal movement.

3. In a chair having an elongated support member including sections separated from each other, and an insert having universal movement connecting the sections together, said insert including a block of yieldable non-metallic material arranged in telescoped relation with the adjacent sections with a portion of said block laterally of the telescoped portion directly between the opposing ends of the sections and permanently secured thereto for relative yielding action of the sections with respect to each other.

4. In a chair having an elongated support member including sections separated from each other, and an insert connecting the sections together, said insert including an elongated block of yieldable non-metallic material extending from side to side of the respective sections and interposed therebetween, said sections having portions at the inner ends thereof embracing opposite ends of said block, and fastenings extending through said ends of the block and the embracing portions of the sections permanently securing said block to the sections.

5. In a chair having an elongated support member including sections separated from each other, and an insert connecting the sections together, said insert including an elongated block of yieldable non-metallic materialv extending from side to side of the respective sections and interposed therebetween, said sections having portions at the inner ends thereof embracing opposite ends of said block, and fastenings extending through said ends of the block and the embracing portions of the sections permanently securing said block to the sections, said block having a flanged portion interposed between the ends of the sections and holding said ends in spaced relation from each other.

6. In a chair having an elongated support member including sections separated from each other, and an insert connecting the sections together, said insert including an elongated block of yieldable non-metallic material extending from side to side from the respective sections and interposed therebetween, said sections having portions at the inner ends thereof embracing opposite ends of said block, and means cooperating with said ends of the block and the embracing portions of the sections permanently securing said block to the sections.

7. In a chair having an elongated support member including normally aligned spaced sections having sockets in their opposed adjacent ends, an insert of resilient material connecting said sections together, said insert having reduced ends received within said sockets and an integral centrally positioned shoulder engaging said opposed adjacent ends of said sections and forming bearing surfaces over the entire areas of said ends of said sections of said elongated support.

8. In a chair having an elongated support member including normally aligned spaced sections having sockets in their opposed adjacent ends, an insert of resilient material connecting said sections together, said insert having reduced ends received within said sockets and an integral centrally positioned shoulder engaging said opposed adjacent ends of said sections and having its perimeter coplanar with the perimeters of the normally aligned sections of said elongated support member and said shoulder, forming bearing surfaces over the entire areas of said ends of said sections of said elongated support.

9. In a chair having an elongated support member including normally aligned spaced sections having sockets in their opposed adjacent ends, an insert of resilient material connecting said sections together, said insert having reduced ends received within said sockets, means of securing said insert therein, said insert having a centrally positioned shoulder integrally formed therewith and secured to the adjacent ends of said normally aligned sections, said shoulder forming bearing surfaces over the adjacent ends of said normally aligned sections, whereby during the flexing of one of said sections with respect to the other said shoulder will be maintained in con-, tact on both faces with opposed adjacent ends of said sections and at the opposite sides of the latter.

10. In a chair having an elongated support member including normally aligned spaced sections having opposing end faces, an insert of nonmetallic resilient material interposed between the opposing ends of the aligned sections and connected therewith, and means connected with the insert in position to act on the respective sections to oppose freedom of relative swinging movement of the sections.

11. In a chair having an elongated support member including normally aligned spaced sections having opposing end faces, each of said sections having a recess extending inwardly thereof from said end faces, inserts of resilient material interposed between said opposing end faces with portions thereof extending into the recesses of the sections, means securing the inserts to said sections, and a leaf spring extending in overlapping relation with the adjacent ends of the sections and interposed between the inserts.

WALTER D. CORNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 144,020 Doremus Oct. 28, 1873 243,405 Rush June 28, 1881 1,523,784 Marks Jan. 20, 1925 1,637,780 Masury Aug. 2, 1927 2,483,304 Vogel Sept. 27, 1949 

